Janet Weiss to Lead BP Alaska

Published: February 2, 2013

Janet Weiss has been named Regional President of BP Alaska, effective February 15, the company announced today.

She succeeds John Mingé, who has been appointed Chairman and President of BP America Inc. after serving as head of BP’s Alaska business since January 1, 2009. Mr. Mingé will be based in Houston, where he will serve as BP’s lead representative in the US.

“BP’s history in Alaska stretches back more than five decades and it is one of the largest and most important businesses in BP’s global portfolio,” Mr. Mingé said. “Having spent 18 of her 27 years in the industry in Alaska, I am confident that Janet Weiss’ background and experience are what BP Alaska needs to continue thriving as a major global energy producer.”

Ms. Weiss (pronounced WEE-ss) serves currently in Alaska as Regional Vice President, Resources, accountable for resource progression and subsurface activities, as well as for IT. In her new role, she will be responsible for BP's oil and gas exploration, development and production activities in Alaska, as well as its interests in the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline. She will continue to be based in Anchorage. Ms. Weiss has held engineering and executive posts in both Alaska and in the Lower 48.

Beginning her career in Alaska in 1986, she has worked there as a process engineer, reservoir engineer, petroleum engineer, and reservoir engineering advisor. Her executive appointments include VP of Special Projects for BP Exploration & Production and VP for Unconventional Gas Technology. She has also led BP’s Western Wyoming businesses and Base Operations for the Gulf of Mexico Shelf.

Ms. Weiss holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University.

“BP Alaska is home to some of the most capable people in the industry and I am honored to be asked to lead them,” Ms. Weiss said. “I’ve seen first-hand what they can achieve in even the most challenging of environments.”

BP is one of Alaska’s leading investors, taxpayers and employers, with more than 2,200 employees and over 6,000 contractors. The company operates four fields on the North Slope, including Greater Prudhoe Bay, which together account for about two-thirds of the state’s oil production.

The US hosts BP’s largest and most diverse portfolio of businesses and its 23,000 US employees represent the largest concentration of BP employees in the world. The company’s business activities support an estimated 210,000 more American jobs. BP’s capital investments in the US over the past five years exceed $52 billion, more than any other company and more than BP invests in any other country.